Charlie wade murmured, “This Poqing Society elder is throwing caution to the winds. If he brings those two hundred-plus people at McMurdo Station under his control, even if the authorities in the American and Japanese mainlands do not discover it immediately, their large-scale searches will inevitably create massive fuel shortages and equipment wear. When summer arrives and more researchers and tourists reach Antarctica, the secret simply cannot be kept.”
“At that point, the authorities in both countries will be baffled. For instance, why thousands of tonnes of fuel have vanished over one winter, or why vehicle odometers show astronomical mileage increases. Even if they tamper with the odometers, the wear on tracks, tyres, engines, gearboxes, drive shafts, and other components cannot be hidden. Frequent vehicle use will rapidly deplete spare parts stocks. All these anomalies will alert their national authorities, who will certainly launch large-scale investigations.”
Lin Waner nodded in agreement. “The young master is right. Spiritual energy can erase traces in memory, but it cannot erase physical traces in the natural world. This elder must know that himself. So, in my humble opinion, he plans to stake everything this winter. Whether he succeeds or fails, he probably will never return here afterwards.”
Song Rife said with some worry, “Such large-scale operations in this season will inevitably cause supply shortages. Even though McMurdo Station has vast reserves, they absolutely could not withstand such intensive searches. In the near future, they will certainly target other stations. Might they come here?”
“It is not impossible.” Charlie wade said gravely, “The situation is far too passive now. We cannot rashly go out to communicate with the aurora and that mysterious entity. Staying here carries risks too. Even leaving Antarctica now is pure fantasy. If they conduct searches on this scale, discovering us would not be surprising. All we can do is pray that this elder does not find us…”
At this point, Charlie wade said with some annoyance, “If I had known I would encounter him here, I would have found a way to bring a few close-in weapon systems. We have his facial features and appearance. Pairing CIWS with radar and AI targeting algorithms, we could have ambushed him at some point in Antarctica and perhaps left him here forever.”
Song Rife asked excitedly, “Mr Wade, could close-in weapon systems still be sent in now?”
Charlie wade shook his head. “Definitely not now. By the time anything could be sent, it would be too late.”
“Very well.” Song Rife sounded a little disappointed and sighed, “If we could eliminate a Poqing Society elder, it would deal Wu Fiona a tremendous blow.”
Charlie wade nodded in agreement and smiled. “Unfortunately, we cannot seize this opportunity.”
Lin Waner was silent for a moment, then said to Charlie wade, “Young master, I have an idea.”
Charlie wade smiled. “Miss Lin, please speak.”
Lin Waner said, “If we could pass a message to Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, letting them know the Japanese research team is secretly conducting some operation behind their backs, the ministry would certainly assume treason and treat it with utmost seriousness.”
“But they are too far away to act directly. Their only icebreaker is trapped here, so they would certainly request military assistance.”
“Given the cooperative relationship between Japan and the United States, they would very likely share the situation with the Americans and even ask the US military for help.”
“Once troops from both countries land in Antarctica, not only would his carefully built base at the Japanese station be destroyed, but his plan to control the American station would be thwarted. With both nations conducting military operations simultaneously, he would become a stray dog with no foothold left in Antarctica.”
Charlie wade nodded with some delight. “Miss Lin’s idea is excellent, but I have one concern.”
Lin Waner said, “Young master, please speak.”
Charlie wade sighed. “My concern is that if this elder becomes a stray dog, he will surely seek a new refuge in the vast Antarctic wilderness. If he finds our station, or passes through here, it would truly be awkward.”
Lin Waner nodded. “That risk does exist, but in my humble view it is not great. We are only two or three hundred kilometres from the Japanese station. If he must evade searches by Japanese and American forces, he would flee farther away and is unlikely to choose this area.”
“That makes sense.”
Charlie wade felt Lin Waner was truly bold yet meticulous. Her plan was sound. If they followed it, this elder who dreamed of territorial expansion might find his own backyard ablaze and lose his main base.
The question now was how to make Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology discover the problem “naturally”.
